What is Pinellia Ternata?

Pinellia ternata is a plant. An underground part called a tuber is used to make medicine.

Pinellia ternata is a common ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine combination products. Many of these products are used for morning sickness. Pinellia ternata, along with ginger, is an ingredient in the herbal formulation Xiao-Ban-Xia-Tang (XBXT), which is used to prevent vomiting. Pinellia ternata is also used in Japanese Kampo medicine. It is an ingredient in Sho-seiryu-to (SST), which is used for the flu.

However, since April 2004, pinellia ternata has been banned in the US because it contains chemicals called ephedrine alkaloids. These chemicals might cause serious side effects such as heart attack, stroke, or seizures.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Pinellia ternata for these uses.

How does Pinellia Ternata work?

There isn't enough information available to know how Pinellia ternata might work. Some chemicals in Pinellia ternata might affect the stomach and how fast food moves through it.

Are there safety concerns?

Pinellia ternata might not be safe. It contains a stimulant called ephedrine and might cause serious side effects such as heart attack, stroke, or seizures. Because of these safety concerns, this product is banned in the US.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of Pinellia ternata during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Dosing considerations for Pinellia Ternata.

The appropriate dose of Pinellia ternata depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Pinellia ternata. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).